A/C in the Southeast, Part 2: The Best Way to Cool Homes in Humid Climates?

This is the second article of a two-part series on cooling in the Southeast. Part 1 focused on what makes cooling in the region unique. Part 2 focuses on humidity control.
Determining the best way to cool homes in a high-humidity climate is a complex problem with many answers. According to Dane Christensen, senior engineer in Residential Building Efficiency at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), best could mean best opportunity for maximum cost efficiency, best performance, or a single option that provides both. Knowing what’s going on in the home, planning ahead, and researching the options helps homeowners to make the best decision when their existing A/C system fails.